Georgia's Foreign Ministry has released a statement claiming that Russia is engaged in "intensive militarization" in Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The statement mentioned the recent visit of the head of Russian ground forces General Vladimir Chirkin to both regions and Russian plans to hold military exercises in those regions in September as creating a threat to the peace and stability of Georgia.

The statement said Russia "has nothing to offer the Caucasus except criminal, mafia-style rule and militarization."

In Moscow, General Chirkin said there was no chance of a repeat of the brief 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia.

The 2008 military conflict between Georgia and Russia ended with Abkhazia and South Ossetia declaring independence from Georgia, a move quickly recognized by Russia.